Kia Soul India Launch In the Offing?

by Jatin Chhibber | 27/05/2020
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After getting a positive response for the Kia Soul EV from the spectators at Auto Expo 2020. Kia Motors India could be planning to launch the compact crossover in our market

Korean automaker Kia is “seriously” considering launching the Soul in the Indian market. From a long time, we all were expecting the carmaker to introduce the Soul EV in India as it was also showcased earlier this year at the Auto Expo 2020. In a recent interview with Car and Bike, Manohar Bhat, Head (Sales & Marketing), Kia Motors India has said that the Soul EV has got a good response at the Auto Expo 2020. While crossovers do not attract Indians too much, the rather unconventional design of Soul EV was very much liked by the spectators. That said, it looks like the company is actually contemplating bringing the ICE-powered versions to our shores. 

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Kia Soul India Launch In the Offing?

Kia Soul is likely to be positioned between Sonet and Seltos in the Indian market

Speaking on the feedback received from show-goers, Manohar Bhat said,


We got a lot of feedback from customers at the Auto Expo 2020 about the Soul. The Soul is a very young and different looking vehicle. While the Soul EV might not be a viable solution for India right now, it Soul is available in other powertrains and it is well worth looking at. We have got very positive feedback about the design of the Soul. We will look at the Soul or a similar vehicle for the Indian market going forward. We are seriously looking at it and we'll bring it only after checking out on how the market is progressing.”

The Kia Soul is 4,000 mm in length, which means the car will not attract as much GST as the Seltos. Importing Kia Soul to the domestic market could be too expensive, so locally manufacturing the car is the only way to make the Soul a successful product here.

The car is expected to be placed between the Kia Sonet and Seltos and is likely to be priced between Rs 7.5-10 lakh (ex-showroom). Internationally, the Kia Soul is available with a range of engine options, including a 123 PS 1.6-litre MPi naturally aspirated petrol motor, 152 PS 2.0-litre MPi naturally-aspirated petrol engine and a 204 PS 1.6-litre T-GDi turbo-petrol option. The car will come loaded to its gills with features like sleek LED headlamps with narrow DRLs, LED boomerang-shaped taillights, 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with split function, 8-inch HUD, 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system and much more.

Source: Carandbike

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